LA CRESTA, CA — A brush fire that burned about 144 acres in Riverside County was 90% contained Saturday, authorities announced.
The fire was reported around 3 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Via Volcano and Tejana roads in the unincorporated community of La Cresta, along the boundary of the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
At the initial time of report, the fire was five acres, but continued burning overnight and had grown to 143.6 acres by 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Murrieta Fire & Rescue, Riverside Fire Department, Corona Fire Department, Cal Fire-San Diego County and other agencies were sent to the location Tuesday, encountering flames moving at a moderate rate through medium to heavy brush.
At the height of the brusher, four Cal Fire air tankers and two water- dropping helicopters were making runs on it. However, all fixed-wing aircraft cleared the location Tuesday night. A helicopter made targeted drops on Wednesday and remained on alert status Thursday, but wasn't flying as of 11 a.m.
An evacuation order and a warning were issued earlier in the week covering a few scattered properties along Tenaja between Avenida Caleta to the west and Clinton Keith Road to the east. The order and warning were lifted by Saturday.
Two firefighters fell ill from heat exhaustion and dehydration Wednesday morning. They were taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar in stable condition.
No other injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
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